The one who is not an expert at ANYTHING.
Oh sure, I can cook, bake, and clean. I make sure the red shirts stay out of the white sock loads...
I usually remember to pick my kids up on time, am generally not too late arriving at functions.
Stuck backpack zippers? Stubborn shoelace knots? Untucked bedsheets? My forte, apparently.
This lack of specialization can bring a woman down. What can I do well? Maybe even, dare I say it, especially well?
We all have our gifts, that I know. And I can give you a laundry list of exactly what my gifts are NOT.
Crafting (in any sense of the word) comes to mind as #1 on that list. Being organized is a close second.
I pondered this question as I stood outside the other day, minding Little Dude while shooting hoops with Action Man.
I thought of it again as I haphazardly stitched together an errant seam in one of Little Dear's skirts.
I was reminded of it while kicking the soccer ball around with Sports Fan at one of Little Boo's games.
And I realized... I have just enough. Just enough skill and know-how to be the mom to these kids. These specific children placed in my care...
I may not be able to beat my 14 year old at a game of H-O-R-S-E, but I can make a good showing of it.
I can stop my 12 year old from deking around me with a soccer ball, at least 80% of the time. And probably deke him out just as often, still. (well, at least for now... expecting to see that number dwindle rapidly)
I can stitch a (somewhat) straight line... and years ago actually used a sewing machine to make jedi robes for the boys. (swoon!)
Little Dear defers to me during her baking adventures.
Sports Fan listens to my soccer advice during his games.
Action Man comes to me for Latin difficulties.
Little Boo lets me help her with Math. (That's about it, but I'll take it. :P)
And I'm still pretty much the center of Little Love's universe. (Can you say "baby-girl"?)
As a mom-of-many, I have a lot of hats to don. The personalities and preferences of my children dictate which hats are the most important ones. And while I'll never be that perfect, put-together, uber-organized paragon of expertise...
I'll be me. That mediocre Mama who has just enough wisdom, grace, and soccer-skills to get the job done.
:P
3 comments:
Nobody is an expert at this mama thing and if they try to make you think they are, they are probably selling you something. We have our talents as they were given to us by our Perfect Father in Heaven. We stretch outside ourselves when He asks us. We do the best we can and pray that He will fill in the gaps.
Well put. Thanks for the thoughts!!! :)
and well loved by many!
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